4 Myths People Believe About Costco

Given the amount of people talking about Costco pretty much constantly, there's bound to be at least some nonsense out there. Let's take a look at a few of the most common Costco myths.

1. It's nothing but bargains

The first thing we tend to think of when it comes to warehouse stores is bargains. "I'm going to buy giant vats of stuff for pennies on the pound, and I'm going to save so much money!"

Eh. Maybe?

Are there bargains to be had in those endless Costco aisles? Absolutely. Is everything you buy at Costco going to save you money? Nope. You're never guaranteed a bargain when you buy something. That applies as much to Costco as anywhere else.

Many of the items at Costco have the potential to save you money. For example, if you can really go through two liters of olive oil before it goes rancid on you (or you're one of the 44% who like rancid olive oil), then the Kirkland Signature olive oils could be a bargain. On the other hand, if you wind up throwing out half of the oil when it goes off -- well, that's not as great for your finances.

2. There are wall-to-wall free samples

Media would have you picture warehouse stores as these havens of sampledom, featuring aisle after aisle after aisle of free bounty. Sadly, the reality is a lot less cinematic.

You can definitely find some tasty samples at Costco while you're shopping. But don't count on it being enough to skip lunch, especially if you're there in the middle of the week.

Regulars say the best time to pick up samples is the weekend, especially in the early afternoon. This is when crowds are thickest -- which is a double-edged sword. Sure, there will be lots of samples, but there will also be lots of other shoppers vying for those samples.

3. You can return anything, at any time

Costco indeed advertises a "Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee," with no broad limits on when you need to make the return to get your money back for many items. That said, this isn't a limitless policy, and there are a few key limitations to note:

• Most electronics and appliances can only be returned within 90 days.
• Tires, batteries, and other items with a "limited useful life expectancy" can have product-specific limits.
• Special order items and custom-installed products may not be returned outside of warranty specifications.
• Shop Cards (Costco's own gift cards) are non-refundable.

You can always ask an associate or contact Costco directly if you're unsure about the return policy for a specific item. If you're at all concerned, be sure to clarify the policy before you buy.

4. Everything has ridiculously large portions

Alright, sure, this one is a little bit true. Walking the aisles, it's easy to assume everything in the store comes in containers with volumes in liters and weights in pounds.

But that isn't true of everything. Costco's famous $5 rotisserie chicken, for instance, is just regular, you know, chicken-sized. And, for a seasonal example, Costco's Halloween costumes are simply people-sized.

Similarly, some of the items Costco sells aren't particularly large portions, they're just numerous. For instance, if you buy a variety pack of chips, the packages will likely be a reasonable 1-ounce snack size -- all 50 of them.

A few bonus tidbits

We've looked at several rumors that aren't true today, so why not take a look at a few that are:

• The hot dog combo has been the same price since 1985. True! The hot dog and soda combo has cost just $1.50 since it first debuted in 1985. Costco's leaders have repeatedly promised that the cost won't go up in the foreseeable future, either. (Had it kept up with inflation, it would cost over $4 today.)
• You can only use Visa credit cards at Costco. Unfortunately, this is true. While you can use cash or debit cards of whatever variety, Costco only accepts credit cards that work on the Visa network in its warehouse stores. (You can use Visa and Mastercard on Costco.com.)
• Costco has its own credit card. Like a lot of brands, Costco has a cobranded card (and yes, it is a Visa card): the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi. While it's a so-so card for Costco purchases, it's actually a pretty great gas card, earning 4% back on gas and EV charging, with a $7,000 annual spending cap. In fact, you could potentially pay for your Costco membership just with the gas rewards from your Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.

Fact or myth: Is a Costco membership worth it?

This is one of the things that's hard to say one way or another, because it depends on your needs and spending habits. A Costco membership can pay for itself in savings for many types of members, be it through little savings on everyday items or a few great deals on bigger purchases.

But not everyone will get their money's worth from a membership. The nice thing about Costco, though, is if you aren't happy with your membership, you can get the fee refunded as part of the company's satisfaction guarantee. That makes trying it out a fairly risk-free experience.